PREP SOFTBALL 1992 / EMPIRE LEAGUE : Katella

1991 RECORDS OVERALL LEAGUE 17-7 9-1

COACH RECORD AT SCHOOL Rhonda Weyer 41-49

RETURNING STARTERS YR. POS. B-T Kelsi Armbruster Jr. P R-R Melissa Benbow Jr. 3B R-R Lisa Helg Jr. 1B R-L Tammy Lohmann Sr. SS R-R Stacey Yourstone Jr. C R-R

OTHER TOP RETURNERS YR. POS. B-T Gabby Piazza Jr. OF L-R Lauri Rossini So. 2B-OF L-R

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. POS. B-T Sarah Dalmas Fr. P R-R Erin Kennedy So. UTL R-R Dawn Mazzagetti So. OF R-R Johnalle Munoz So. OF R-R Nikki Solomito Sr. Of R-R Jamie Vaicaro Fr. OF R-R

OUTLOOK

With seven players returning from the team that won the school’s first league championship in softball since 1977, Katella is the consensus favorite to finish first again. The biggest reason for the expectations is Lohmann, the Empire League most valuable player who was the county’s leading hitter (.541) and among the top five in stolen bases (25) last season. But Weyer warns that the Knights are more than just a one-girl team. Third baseman Benbow, a first-team, all-league selection, batted .382 last season. “We do have a lot of bats, so we’re not always relying on Tammy,” Weyer said. “I think we’ll score a few more runs and take some of the pressure off Kelsi (Armbruster).” Weyer said Armbruster, who had a 0.44 ERA with 68 strikeouts and was a first-team, all-league selection last season, has improved. The Knights gained confidence by defeating Kennedy, which was ranked second in the county, in the first round of the Division 5-A playoffs.